Modesto Relays the place to be

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http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/st ... 7402c.html

Track and field beat: Modesto won't be the pits
By John Schumacher -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Wednesday, May 3, 2006
Story appeared in Sports section, Page C2


If you're a track fan, Modesto is the place to be Saturday. And if you're fond of the pole vault, consider the 65th Modesto Relays a can't-miss proposition.
Auburn native Stacy Dragila, who has left Phoenix and coach Greg Hull to return to Pocatello, Idaho, and former coach Dave Nielsen, is scheduled to open her outdoor season in the meet at Modesto Junior College. But it's the men's pole vault that has meet director Gregg Miller sounding especially enthusiastic.

Olympic gold medalist Tim Mack and silver medalist Toby Stevenson; Brad Walker, ranked No. 1 in the world; Germany's Tim Lobinger, ranked second in the world; U.S. Olympian Derek Miles, from Bella Vista High School; and American record holder Jeff Hartwig headline a field boasting five of the top 13 vaulters in the world rankings.

The event produced some Modesto magic two years ago, with Stevenson soaring to a personal-best 19 feet, 8 1/4 inches before missing three attempts at surpassing Hartwig's U.S. mark of 19-9 1/4.

"I've been getting all the e-mails from Tim Mack, Tim Lobinger and Toby; they've been talking trash for two weeks," Miller said. "I'm looking forward to it. ... There could easily be another 6-meter (19-8 1/4) vault."

Dragila, the 2000 Olympic champion while working with Nielsen, moved to Phoenix to work with Hull in April 2003. She won the U.S. Olympic Trials in Sacramento in 2004, but an Achilles problem contributed to her failing to reach the Olympic final in Athens, Greece.

Miller said he was happy to see Dragila planning to return after missing the Modesto event last year because of a slight tear of the right Achilles' tendon.

"This is her hometown meet, as she calls it," Miller said. "We're really pulling for her."

Dragila's competition is expected to include Jenn Stuczynski, the 2005 U.S. Indoor champion who owns a 15-4 1/4 best, and UCLA standout Chelsea Johnson.

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Yours truly will be working both women's pits.